Apparatus for trimming and removing the flashing from phonograph records

ABSTRACT

An apparatus including punch and die members for severing a ring-shaped flashing from a pressed record, and for simultaneously punching the center hole from the record. The apparatus further includes hook members for engaging and pulling the severed annular flashing from the punch and die members. Stripper elements are included within the upper punch member for stripping the record from the punch member, and a slide tray is adapted to be moved between the separated punch and die members for transferring the stripped record to a deposit station.

United States Patent Westermann APPARATUS FOR TRIMMING AND REMOVING THE FLASHING FROM PHONOGRAPH RECORDS [76] Inventor: William S. Westermann, 1400 Burton Valley Rd., Nashville, Tenn. 37215 22 Filed: Dec. 26, 1973 21 Appl. No: 428,084

[52] US. Cl. 83/124; 83/137; 83/157; 83/159; 83/165; 83/621; 83/914;

[51] Int. Cl B26d 7/06 [58] Field of Search 425/806, 810, 217, 215, 425/298; 83/95, 160, 914, 82, 23, 137, 157,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Harlow et a1, 425/810 X 1 June 17, 1975 2,839,306 6/1958 Bayless 83/914 3,148,571 9/1964 Wallis 83/160 X 3,663,136 5/1972 Westermann 425/116 Primary Examiner-Andrew R. Juhasz Assistant ExaminerW. R. Briggs Attorney, Agent, or FirmHarrington A. Lackey [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus including punch and die members for severing a ring-shaped flashing from a pressed record, and for simultaneously punching the center hole from the record. The apparatus further includes hook members for engaging and pulling the severed annular flashing from the punch and die members. Stripper elements are included within the upper punch member for stripping the record from the punch member, and a slide tray is adapted to be moved between the separated punch and die members for transferring the stripped record to a deposit station.

13 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures SHEET PATENTEDJUN 1 7 I975 I-HIIl II I PATENTEDJUH 17 I975 SHKET ms RQN mm an 94 9Q Q 5 .M: i wk 8% I \l n$ m m m i Q fig & A W m. 3 1 1% x -R Mm o mm QN. Kw \NN NR. N \vm mm 4/ a 1% NN M H Q R w W- TR Q n m K WM r K 3 Q% NH m LI 7 7* w a MN Q. IN 9% APPARATUS FOR TRIMMING AND REMOVING THE FLASHING FROM PHONOGRAPH RECORDS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus for finishing a pressed phonograph record, and more particularly to an apparatus for trimming and removing the flashing from a pressed phonograph record, and transferring the record from the trimming station to a deposit station.

In other machines for automatically making phonograph records, such as that disclosed in applicants prior US. Pat. No. 3,663,136, more complex and less reliable finishing means are employed for carrying out similar functions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for finishing a pressed phonograph record, in which the center hole and the flashing are simultaneously die cut and completely severed from the record, in which a special pulling mechanism removes the annular flashing from the dies, and in which the trimmed record is transported to a deposit station.

The pulling mechanism includes a spring-biased ledge adjacent one side of the lower punch platen yieldable to the downward pressure of the punch member as the flashing is severed. When the punch member is elevated, the ledge is biased upward to support a portion of the annular flashing. On the opposite side of the platen are a pair of movable pulling fingers or hook members located slightly beneath the platen face but within the periphery of the platen, so that side of the annular flashing will drop by gravity outside the hook members. After the punch member is elevated, the hook members are moved away from the platen to carry the annular flashing across the top of the platen and away from the punching apparatus.

The apparatus also includes means for holding the trimmed record upon the upper punch member and a stripper member within the punch member for stripping the record from the punch member in its upper position. A tray is adapted to be swung between the punch member and platen, in their retracted positions, for catching the stripped record and transferring the record to a deposit station.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the record finishing apparatus made in accordance with this invention, and a portion of the record press and mechanism for transferring the pressed record to the finishing apparatus,

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, rear elevation of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2, with parts broken away;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the punching mechanism in which the inner stripper member is protracted to a record clamping position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the upper punch member;

FIG. 6 is a section taken along the line 66 of FIG. 5, showing the punching mechanism severing the center plug and flashing from a record;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the apparatus, preparatory to removal of the flashing and the record;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the removal of the flashing, and the stripping and transferring of the record to the deposit station; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged section taken along the line 99 of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to FIG. I, the record finishing apparatus 10 made in accordance with this invention is disclosed as a part of an unloading assembly frame 11, which may be substituted for the unloading assembly frame disclosed in applicants prior US. Pat. No. 3,663,136, in order to cooperate with the apparatus at the pressing station 12, such as that disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,663,136.

After a phonograph record 14 is pressed at the pressing station 12, the record 14 is transferred to the finishing or trimming station 15 between the upper punch member 16 and the lower punch member 17 within the finishing apparatus 10 (FIGS. 1 and 4). The phonograph record 14 may be transferred by the record holder 18, similar to that disclosed in the prior US. Pat. No. 3,663,136, including gripping flanges 19 for gripping the flashing 20. The record holder 18 is reciprocated between the pressing station 12 and the finishing station 15 by means of pneumatic cylinder 22 and piston rod 23.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the finishing apparatus 10 is disclosed as having duplicate side-by-side elements for processing two records 14 at a time in order to double production for any given period of time. Accordingly, all duplicate elements will bear the same reference numerals.

The upper punch members 16 are mounted on a transverse head beam 25 supported upon piston rods 26 for reciprocal vertical movement upon actuation of corresponding hydraulic cylinders 27. Thus, upon actuation of hydraulic cylinders 27 in one direction, the punch members 16 will be lowered to cooperate with the corresponding punch platens 17 in operative or trimming position, while actuation of the hydraulic cylinders 27 in the opposite direction will raise the punch members 16 to an elevated inoperative position.

Each of the punch platens 17 is mounted stationarily upon the unloading frame 11 and has a substantially flat top face bounded by a circular peripheral or marginal edge 28. Formed vertically through the center of each punch platen 17 is a circular die hole 29 coaxially aligned with a similar plug discharge hole 30 in a platen support member 31 stationarily mounted upon the frame 11.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the upper punch member 16 includes a circular center punch base 33 supporting a depending center pin 34 and a replaceable center punch 35. The periphery of the punch member 16 forms an annular rim die 36. An annular cavity 37 occupies the remaining space between the inner surface of the rim die 36 and the outer surface of the center punch base 33. The diameter of the inner surface of the rim die 36 is only slightly greater than the diameter of the peripheral edge 28 of the platen 17, so that when the punch member 16 is lowered, the rim die 36 and the peripheral edge 28 telescope relative to each other to provide a punch and die action for severing an annular strip of flashing 20 from the record 14, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

The punch member may be secured to the cross beam 25 by bolts 38.

Mounted for limited vertical reciprocation within the cavity 37 is an annular outer stripper member 40. The outer stripper member 40 is supported by the bolts 41 fixed to the cross beam 25 and extending through corresponding spring wells 42 formed through the punch member 16 and the cross member 25. Each spring well 42 receives a coil spring 43 about a corresponding bolt 41. Each spring 43 is compressed sufficiently to bear against the top of the spring well 42 and against the top of the outer stripper member 40 normally to urge the outer stripper member 40 down against the stop heads 44 of the bolts 41, disclosed in FIG. 6. The lower limit of movement of the outer surface 40 is determined by the position of the stop heads 44. Although the stop heads 44 are not disclosed in FIG. 9, nevertheless, the outer stripper member 40 is disclosed in its lowermost position, barely projecting below the rim die 36.

Also mounted for vertical reciprocal movement within the cavity 37 is a rectangular-shaped inner stripper member 45. The inner stripper member 45 has a circular center hole 46 of only slightly greater diameter than the diameter of the center punch 35, and adapted to telescopingly receive the center punch 35 for relative vertical reciprocal movement. The opposite ends of the inner stripper member 45 are provided with flanges 47 for engagement with the annular ledge 48 on the inner periphery of the outer stripper member 44, as best disclosed in FIG. 9.

Fixed to opposite end portions of the inner stripper member 45 are the bottom ends of a pair of drive rods 50 adapted to move through guide openings 51 in the head beam 25. The upper ends of the drive rods 50 are fixed to a cross head 52, in turn fixed to the upper end of a piston rod 53 adapted to be reciprocated by the pneumatic cylinder 54 mounted on top of the head beam 25.

A pair of spring retainer plates 58 are supported by a pair of bolts 56, having stop heads 57, fixed to the head beam 25. The spring retainer plates 58 extend transversely over the opposite ends of inner stripper member 45, and are provided with a central opening for slidably receiving the corresponding drive rods 50. The adjustments of the bolts 56 are such that the coil springs 60 may bias the retainer plates 58 down to their limit against the stop heads 57, thereby pushing the inner stripper member 45 down to the stripping posi tion disclosed in FIG. 9, slightly lower than the lowermost position of the outer stripper member 40. The inner rim of the inner stripper member 45 defined by the center hole 46 projects downward slightly to form a stripping boss 63. In the stripping position of FIG. 9, the stripping boss 63 may be flush with, or below, the center punch 35. The stop heads 57 are freely slidable in corresponding holes 64 in the body of the inner stripper member 45, so that the inner stripper member 45 may be forced by the drive rods 50 substantially below the lowermost position of the spring retainer plates 58.

The apparatus for removing the flashing after it has been severed from the pressed record 14 comprises a pulling mechanism including a pair of pulling fingers or hook members 65, the lower ends of which are fixed to a rotary shaft 66. In their inoperative positions, the hook members 65 extend substantially straight up and are received in vertical recesses 67 within and on one side of the platen 17. As best disclosed in FIG. 6, the

hook members 65, when received in their inoperative positions Within the recesses 67 are within the vertically cylindrical projection of the peripheral edge 28 of the platen 17. The hook shaft 66 is journaled at its opposite ends in bearings 68 in the frame 11.

A pair of guide posts 71 are fixed to the platen support 31 and another guide post 71 is fixed to support flange 70. The upper ends of the guide posts 71 are adapted to reciprocate in corresponding holes, not shown, within flashing ledge 72. The flashing ledge 72 is normally biased into an elevated position slightly above the plane of the top face of the lower platen 17, by coil springs 73 surrounding corresponding guide posts 71.

Mounted on the front side of the punch member 16 are spring biased plunger pins 74, adapted to engage flashing ledge 72 when the punch member 16 descends and cooperatively engages the platen 17. As the punch member 16 retracts, the plunger pins 74 hold the flashing 20 on the ledge 72. Upon retraction of the punch member 16, the ledge 72 is biased upward to its normal position by the springs 73, thereby carrying the front portion of the annular severed flashing 20 supported by the ledge 72 above the platen 17, to prevent the flashing 20 from being caught between the rim die 36 and the outer stripper member 40. On the other hand, the rear portion of the flashing 20 on the opposite side of the platen 17 drops by gravity, as best disclosed in FIG. 6, into a position in the rearward path of the hook members 65. The hook members 65, moving outward from their respective recesses 67, engage the dropped rear portion of the flashing 20. Continued outward pivotal movement of the hook members carries the rear portion of the flashing 20 with the hook members 65, thereby dragging the front portion of the flashing 20 across the top of the platen 17, until the flashing 20 has completely cleared, and been removed from, the trimming station 15 between the upper punch member 16 and the lower platen 17, as illustrated in FIG. 8.

The device for removing the trimmed record 14, after it has been stripped from the bottom of the punch member 16, includes a tray 75 having an opposed pair of side guide walls 76, and an arcuate cutout portion 78 in the lower end of the tray 75. The tray 75 is mounted on the upper end of an arm 79, the lower end of which is fixed to a transverse rotary shaft 80, journaled at its opposite ends in bearings 81 on frame 11.

FIG. 7 discloses the tray 75 in its extreme rearward inoperative position. In FIG. 8, the tray 75 is disclosed in its forward, rearwardly declining, operative position for receiving and slidably transporting a stripped, trimmed record 14 to a stationary slide tray or chute 83, and ultimately to the stacking pin on deposit station platform 86. The lower end of the stationary guide tray 83 is also provided with an arcuate cutout portion 84 to conform to the rim of a record dropping from the stationary tray 83 upon the stacking pin 85. Obviously, the curvature of the cutout portion 84 is spaced from the vertical axis of the pin 85 the proper distance to permit the transported record 14 to automatically have its center hole aligned with the stacking pin 85 as it drops by gravity from stationary tray 83.

The swinging or rotary movements of the hook members 65 and the unloading tray '75 are synchronized through the sprocket and chain transmission disclosed in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, including large sprocket 87 fixed to shaft 80, small sprocket 88 fixed to shaft 68, and

idler sprocket 89, all connected as shown in FIG. 1 by the endless chain 90. The shaft 80 is rotated by pneumatic ram 92 through piston rod 93 and crank arm 94 fixed to the shaft 80. As best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 7 and 8, when the ram 92 is actuated to retract piston rod 93, shaft 80 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, while simultaneously rotating shaft 66 through a clockwise direction by virtue of the chain and sprocket arrangement. Moreover, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, because of the variation in size of the sprockets 87 and 88, the hook member 65 are rotated through approximately 150, while the tray 75 is rotated through approximately 30.

If desired, a deflecting plate 96 may be mounted upon the plunger member 16, located slightly behind and below the plunger member 16, so that when the plunger member 16 descends to cooperate with the platen 17 to sever the flashing 20, the deflector plate 96 may assist in forcing down the rear portion of the flashing 20 past the peripheral edge 28, as disclosed in FIG. 6.

The apparatus is operated in synchronism with the pressing mechanism at the pressing station 12, and particularly in synchronism with the movement of the record holder 18. These operations are carried out by electrical, pneumatic and hydraulic controls, not shown, but most of which are concealed in the control box 100 (FIG. 2). The sequential operation of the apparatus 10 is primarily determined by the positions of the various elements which physically actuate corresponding limit switches for initiating the next sequential step.

In the operation of this invention, initially, the punch member 16 is in its elevated position with the outer stripper member 40 and inner stripper member 45 in their stripping positions, substantially as shown in FIG. 9. The ram 92 is in its position disclosed in FIG. 7, with its piston rod 93 protracted, to locate the unloading tray 75 in its inoperative position and the hook members 65 in their upright, recessed, inoperative positions. The record holder 18 is located at the pressing station 12 so that the gripping flanges 19 will grip the flashing 20 of a record as it is compressed at the pressing station 12.

After the record is pressed and flashing 20 gripped by the gripping flanges 19, the pneumatic cylinder 22 is actuated to retract its piston rod 23, pulling the record holder 18 from its position disclosed in FIG. 1, rearward into the trimming station 15, as illustrated in FIG. 4. As the record holder 18 enters the trimming station 15, switch actuator 99 (FIG. 3) engages the limit switch 101, triggering an appropriate control within the control box 100 to actuate the cylinder 54, causing the drive rods 50 to descend carrying the inner stripper member 45 down to its clamping position holdingrecord 14 upon the platen 17.

The pressure of the inner stripper member 45 upon the pressed record 14 in clamping position depresses the long vertical rod or stem 102, actuating switch 103 which arms the controls in the control box 100 into a sequencing mode. If no record is transferred into the trimming station 15, then the rod 102 remains up, the switch 103 remains open, and the control circuit is disarmed so that no further sequencing occurs. In other words switch 103 is a fail-safe switch to stop the operation of the apparatus 10 when there is no record 14 present to trim.

Also, as the inner stripper member 45 reaches its clamping position, actuator pin 104 on cross-head 52 actuates limit switch 105 on cylinder 54. Thus, the actuation of both switches 103 and 105 causes transfer cylinder 22 to protract the record holder 18 back to the pressing station 12. As the record holder 18 protracts, the gripping flanges 19 are pulled loose from the flashing 20 by virtue of the record 14 being held by the inner stripper member 45. As the record holder 18 moves into the pressing station 12, another limit switch, not shown, is actuated, causing the cylinder 54 to protract the piston rod 53 to raise the drive rods 50 and inner stripper member 45 back to their elevated positions.

The hydraulic cylinders 27 are then actuated by appropriate controls to lower the head beam 25 and punch member 16, causing the center pin 34 to enter the center hole in phonograph record 14, thereby centering the record and causing rim die 36 to telescope over the closely fitting peripheral edge 28, thereby severing the entire flashing 20 into an annular strip. When the punch member 16 rises, carrying with it the plunger pin 74, the compressed coil springs 73 bias upward the ledge 72 to support the front portion of the annular flashing 20 slightly above the plane of the top face of the platen 17.

On the other hand, the rear portion of the flashing 20 is forced down, after it is severed, by the corresponding portion of the rim die 36 and by the deflector 96, so that the rear portion of the flashing 20 drops by gravity to a position, such as that disclosed in FIG. 6, behind and in the path of the hook members 65.

Slightly before the punch member 16 is forced down upon the platen 17 so that the rim die 36 is in telescoping engagement with the peripheral platen edge 28, the center punch 36 punches out a plastic center plug 112 to form a correspondingly sized center hole in the pressed record 14 (FIG. 6). The severed center plug 112 drops through the holes 29 and 30 to a receptacle, not shown.

As the center punch 35 and rim die 36 sever through the inner and outer portions of the plastic record 14, respectively, both the inner stripper member 45 and the outer stripper member 50 are forced upwardly into the recess 37 until the bottom surface of head beam 25 engages the stop blocks 120, thereby compressing the stripper member springs 43 and 60.

Fixed to the head beam 25 is a depending arm 107 having an actuator bar 108 capable of engaging upper limit switch 109 in its raised position and lower limit switch 110 in its lowermost position, for operating appropriate controls within the control box 100. During the punching operation, the lower limit switch 110 is actuated to reverse the direction of the fluid in hydraulic cylinders 27 and thereby raise the punch member 16.

As the punch member 16 rises, the compressed springs 43 and 60 release some of their energy by expanding and forcing downward the respective outer stripper member 40 and the inner stripper member 45, until the outer stripper member 40 engages its stop heads 44. As the outer stripper member 40 and the inner stripper member 45 gradually move downward within the recess 37, the pressed record 14 is forced downwardly until its outer rim disengages the inner surface of the outer wall of the recess 37 and clears the rim die 36, at the lower limit of the outer stripper member 40. When the outer stripper member 40 reaches its lower limit, the inner stripper member 45 remains in the same position abutting the outer stripper member 40, since the springs 60 do not have sufficient energy to overcome the residual air pressure within cylinders 54 and to further lower the retainer plates 58 and the inner stripper member 45. Accordingly, the punched center hole of the pressed record 14 remains held upon the center punch 35 until the punch member 16 has reached its elevated position, and the stripping operation commences.

When the rising actuator bar 108 engages the upper limit switch 109, the ram 92 is actuated to retract the piston rod 93, thereby swinging the unloading tray 75 from its inoperative position disclosed in FIG. 7, between the punch member 16 and the platen 17 to its operative position, disclosed in FIG. 8. Simultaneously, by virtue of the sprocket and chain transmission interlocking the shafts 66 and 80, the hook members 65 are moved away from the platen 17, to pull the annular flashing 20 across the top of the platen to a discharge position, as disclosed in FIG. 8.

When the tray 75 is in its operative position, the actuator pin 114 engages the upper limit switch 115 causing a release of air pressure below the piston, not shown, within the air cylinder 54, which permits the partially compressed springs 60 to push down the retainer plates 58 and consequently the inner stripper member 45, causing the stripper boss 63 to force the record 14 completely off the center punch 35, as best disclosed in FIG. 9. The released or stripped record 14 falls upon the tray 75, and slides downwardly in the direction of the arrows disclosed in FIG. 8, across the stationary slide member 83, and ultimately drops over the stacking pin 85, as illustrated by the record 14' in FIG. 8.

Subsequently, the tray 75 is swung outward to its inoperative position disclosed in FIG. 7, causing the lower actuator pin 116 to engage the switch button on the limit switch 117, to initiate a repeat operation, upon transfer of the next pressed record 14 from the pressing station 12 to the trimming station 15.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for trimming and removing the flashing from a pressed phonograph record, comprising:

a. a lower punch platen having a circular peripheral edge adapted to support centrally of said platen a pressed phonograph record having a flashing projecting radially beyond said peripheral edge,

b. an upper punch member having an annular rim die adapted to telescopingly receive said peripheral edge to sever the flashing from a pressed record centrally supported on said platen,

c. means for relatively moving said punch member toward and away from said punch platen,

d. hook means supported in an inoperative position within the perimeter of said peripheral edge, to permit the adjacent severed flashing portion to drop down over said hook means,

e. means for moving said hook means away from said platen so that said hook means engages the inner edge of said severed flashing to remove the flashing from said platen.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which said hook means comprises at least one hook opening away from said platen, a vertical recess in the side of said platen for receiving said hook immediately below the top of said platen and within said perimeter, a rotary shaft supporting said hook, and means for driving said rotary shaft to swing said hook away from said platen to carry a severed flashing engaged by said hook away from said platen.

3. The invention according to claim 1 further comprising support means on the opposite side of said platen from said hook means for supporting a portion of the severed flashing in an ejection position substantially in the same plane as, or above, the upper face of said punch platen, to permit said hook means, when engaging said flashing, to pull said flashing across the top of said platen.

4. The invention according to claim 3 in which said flashing support means comprises a ledge, elastic means biasing said ledge toward said ejection position, said ledge being in the downward path of, and adapted to yieldingly engage, said rim die.

5. The invention according to claim 1 further comprising a recess opening through the bottom of said punch member within said rim die, a stripper member, means supporting said stripper member within said recess for limited vertical reciprocal movement between an upper inoperative position within said recess and a lower stripping position below said rim die, said stripper member being moved to said upper inoperative position as said die cooperates with said platen to sever said flashing, and means for forcing said stripper member down to its stripping position to separate a record from said punch member when said punch member moves away from said platen to a retracted position.

6. The invention according to claim 5 in which said means for moving said stripper member comprises fluid-actuated ram means operatively connected to said stripper member, and means for actuating said ram means when said punch member is in its retracted position.

7. The invention according to claim 6 further comprising means for actuating said ram means to move said stripper member to a clamping position substantially below said punch member in its retracted position to engage and center a pressed phonograph record upon said platen prior to said punch member severing the flashing from the record.

8. The invention according to claim 5 further comprising an unloading tray, means mounting said tray for movement between an operative position between said platen and said punch member and declining away from said punch member, and an inoperative position away from the path of said punch member toward said platen, means for moving said tray between said operative and inoperative positions, and means for actuating said stripper member to strip a record from the retracted punch member while said unloading tray is in said operative position whereby said stripped record slides down said tray and away from said punch member.

9. The invention according to claim 8 further comprising a record deposit station including a platform and an upstanding pin, a slide member declining from said tray toward said pin, said tray being adapted to be aligned with said slide member in operative position so that a stripped record will slide down said tray and said slide member and fall over said pin.

10. The invention according to claim 8 further comprising synchronous drive means for actuating said hook means to move away from said platen simultaneously with the movement of said tray toward its operative position.

ll. Theinvention according to claim in which said hook means comprises a hook member mounted on a rotary shaft and said tray is mounted on a second rotary shaft, said drive means comprising means for positively rotating both of said shafts simultaneously.

12. The invention according to claim 11 in which said tray is rotated through an arc of approximately 30 while said hook member is rotated through an arc of approximately 150.

13. The invention according to claim 5 further comprising a center punch in said punch member integral with said rim die and adapted to punch a hole centrally through the pressed record as said flashing is severed by said rim die, said recess being an annular recess within said punch member between said center punch and said rim die, said stripper member comprising an inner stripper member and an outer stripper member, said outer stripper member being supported within said recess for free limited vertical movement, first spring means for biasing said outer stripper member downward to a position substantially level with or above said rim die, said inner stripper member being mounted in partially underlapping relationship with said outer stripper member for downward movement therewith, second spring means biasing said inner stripper member downward at least to the bottom of said center punch, releasable restraining means for holding said inner stripper member above the bottom of said center punch against the bias of said second spring means, whereby said outer stripper member is adapted to partially strip the record from said punch member by the expansion of said first spring means, while said inner stripper member is adapted to completely strip the record from said punch member upon the release of said restraining means. 

1. An apparatus for trimming and removing the flashing from a pressed phonograph record, comprising: a. a lower punch platen having a circular peripheral edge adapted to support centrally of said platen a pressed phonograph record having a flashing projecting radially beyond said peripheral edge, b. an upper punch member having an annular rim die adapted to telescopingly receive said peripheral edge to sever the flashing from a pressed record centrally supported on said platen, c. means for relatively moving said punch member toward and away from said punch platen, d. hook means supported in an inoperative position within the perimeter of said peripheral edge, to permit the adjacent severed flashing portion to drop down over said hook means, e. means for moving said hook means away from said platen so that said hook means engages the inner edge of said severed flashing to remove the flashing from said platen.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 in which said hook means comprises at least one hook opening away from said platen, a vertical recess in the side of said platen for receiving said hook immediately below the top of said platen and within said perimeter, a rotary shaft supporting said hook, and means for driving said rotary shaft to swing said hook away from said platen to carry a severed flashing engaged by said hook away from said platen.
 3. The invention according to claim 1 further comprising support means on the opposite side of said platen from said hook means for supporting a portion of the severed flashing in an ejection position substantially in the same plane as, or above, the upper face of said punch platen, to permit said hook means, when engaging said flashing, to pull said flashing across the top of said platen.
 4. The invention according to claim 3 in which said flashing support means comprises a ledge, elastic means biasing said ledge toward said ejection position, said ledge being in the downward path of, and adapted to yieldingly engage, said rim die.
 5. The invention according to claim 1 further comprising a recess opening through the bottom of said punch member within said rim die, a stripper member, means supporting said stripper member within said recess for limited vertical reciprocal movement between an upper inoperative position within said recess and a lower stripping position below said rim die, said stripper member being moved to said upper inoperative position as said die cooperates with said platen to sever said flashing, and means for forcing said stripper member down to its stripping position to separate a record from said punch member when said punch member moves away from said platen to a retracted position.
 6. The invention according to claim 5 in which said means for moving said stripper member comprises fluid-actuated ram means operatively connected to said stripper member, and means for actuating said ram means when said punch member is in its retracted position.
 7. The invention according to claim 6 further comprising means for actuating said ram means to move said stripper member to a clamping position substantially below said punch member in its retracted position to engage and center a pressed phonograph record upon said platen prior to said punch member severing the flashing from the record.
 8. The invention according to claim 5 further comprising an unloading tray, means mounting said tray for movement between an operative position between said platen and said punch member and declining away from said punch member, and an inoperative position away from the path of said punch member toward said platen, means for moving said tray between said operative and inoperative positions, and means for actuating said stripper member to strip a record from the retracted punch member while said unloading tray is in said operative position whereby said stripped record slides down said tray and away from said punch member.
 9. The invention according to claim 8 further comprising a record deposit station including a platform and an upstanding pin, a slide member declining from said tray toward said pin, said tray being adapted to be aligned with said slide member in operative position so that a stripped record will slide down said tray and said slide member and fall over said pin.
 10. The invention according to claim 8 further comprising synchronous drive means for actuating said hook means to move away from said platen simultaneously with the movement of ssid tray toward its operatIve position.
 11. The invention according to claim 10 in which said hook means comprises a hook member mounted on a rotary shaft and said tray is mounted on a second rotary shaft, said drive means comprising means for positively rotating both of said shafts simultaneously.
 12. The invention according to claim 11 in which said tray is rotated through an arc of approximately 30* while said hook member is rotated through an arc of approximately 150*.
 13. The invention according to claim 5 further comprising a center punch in said punch member integral with said rim die and adapted to punch a hole centrally through the pressed record as said flashing is severed by said rim die, said recess being an annular recess within said punch member between said center punch and said rim die, said stripper member comprising an inner stripper member and an outer stripper member, said outer stripper member being supported within said recess for free limited vertical movement, first spring means for biasing said outer stripper member downward to a position substantially level with or above said rim die, said inner stripper member being mounted in partially underlapping relationship with said outer stripper member for downward movement therewith, second spring means biasing said inner stripper member downward at least to the bottom of said center punch, releasable restraining means for holding said inner stripper member above the bottom of said center punch against the bias of said second spring means, whereby said outer stripper member is adapted to partially strip the record from said punch member by the expansion of said first spring means, while said inner stripper member is adapted to completely strip the record from said punch member upon the release of said restraining means. 